1970 >> May >> Questions Answered  

Questions Answered by N.R. Woodward
by N.R Woodward

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", May 1970, page 24
Question from Dale Austin of Bangor, Maine:

I have just added to my collection a very unusual insulator. It is a CD 145 ("like") T-H.E. Co. The embossing is very near the dome on the crown, and the whole insulator is very crude. It has a mold line over the dome and long swirl start threads. This insulator is smaller in diameter and much higher than an average CD 145. I have the CD 134 T-H.E. Co. in both green and aqua, but this is the first CD 145 I have ever seen or heard of. Do you have any information on this one? And could you tell me if there are many around? I thank you for any information you can give me.

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Dale A. Austin, concerning the T-H.E.CO. insulator:  According to your sketch, I would say this is not a CD 145, as CD 145 is a double petticoat insulator. This is probably a special style that was not made under any other name. I believe it has been reported before (It's difficult to be certain due to inaccuracies in sketches and descriptions); but in any case, it is probably a rare insulator (CD 143.5). I doubt that any quantities will be located: and I can't advise as to its specific use or design without seeing it.


Question from Paul Smith of Ferndale, California: 

In my collection I have 3 insulators with the "June 17 1890 Patented" date. The insulators are "N.E.G.M. Co." cable top, the "Oakman Helmet", and the "Knowles" bat ears. Is there any connection between these 3 companies? A curious collector.

Paul Smith, concerning the June 17, 1890 patent: As you know, this patent was issued to Samuel Oakman. The illustration used in the patent most nearly resembles a Hemingray - 60, which was also lettered with the June 17, 1890, date in earlier years. Several different makers evidently purchased rights to manufacture under this patent; and the details of the
arrangements are not known. But it is not indicated that there was any connection between the different plants where these "June 17,1890" insulators were made.


Question from Doug Vogel of Van Nuys, California: 

Do you have any more information on the power type insulator made by one of the Denver insulator manufacturers since the last writing of your book. I have specialized in the Denver types and am wondering what type it could be. I have thought about the Mershon insulator being made by Good, because they were primarily used for power distribution in Colorado, and the date they were patented was the same time of Denver manufacture. Also, Ralph Mershon was from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I obtained the above information about Mr. Mershon from your book. Please let me know about my idea. Thank you for answering.

Doug Vogel, concerning Mershon insulators: I will not state one way or another on the insulators that are lettered "By R. R. MERSHON". It is entirely possible that these were made in Colorado; but we have no proof. This style was also made at the Brookfield plant and was offered in their Locke line.


Question from Ted Malarik of Freeport, Maine: 

Do you have any information on "The Standard Glass Insulator Co., Boston, Mass." It is an aqua (pale Blue) beehive 3" x4"-1-1/2" to groove, and the inscription is on the bottom of the rim similar to the Boston Bottle Works and American Insulator Co. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

Ted Malarik, concerning Standard Glass Insulator  Co.: 

Listing for The Standard Glass Insulator Company appears in the Boston Directory for the years 1893-94 only. And by your question, you called my attention to the fact that I left this one out of  the 1969 Report! I had intended to list it, but have never seen one of their insulators and failed to include it. Little else is known of this firm. In those years, Oakman Manufacturing Company supplied, in addition to its own products in glass, molds made to order for other glass makers. Since you mention the similarity to Mr. Oakman's molds, the possibility is suggested that perhaps the molds were of Oakman manufacture.



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